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Evidence for Black Hole Growth in Local Analogs to Lyman Break GalaxiesWe have used XMM-Newton to observe six Lyman break analogs (LBAs): members of the rare population of local galaxies that have properties that are very similar to distant Lyman break galaxies. Our six targets were specifically selected because they have optical emission-line properties that are intermediate between starbursts and Type 2 (obscured) active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our new X-ray data provide an important diagnostic of the presence of an AGN. We find X-ray luminosities of order 10(sup 42) erg per second and ratios of X-ray to far-IR lummositles that are higher than values in pure starburst galaxies by factors ranging from approximately 3 to 30. This strongly suggests the presence of an AGN in at least some of the galaxies. The ratios of the luminosities of the hard (2-10 keV) X-ray to [O III] emission line are low by about an order of magnitude compared with Type 1 AGN, but are consistent with the broad range seen in Type 2 AGN. Either the AGN hard X-rays are significantly obscured or the [O III] emission is dominated by the starburst. We searched for an iron emission line at approximately 6.4 ke V, which is a key feature of obscured AGNs, but only detected emission at the approximately 2sigma level. Finally, we find that the ratios of the mid-infrared (24 micrometer) continuum to [O III]lambda 5007 luminosities in these LBAs are higher than the values for Type 2 AGN by an average of 0.8 dex. Combining all these clues, we conclude that an AGN is likely to be present, but that the bolometric luminosity is produced primarily by an intense starburst. If these black holes are radiating at the Eddington limit, their masses would lie in the range of 10(sup 5) - 10(sup 6) solar mass. These objects may offer ideal local laboratories to investigate the processes by which black holes grew in the early universe.
Document ID
20120017021
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Jia, Jianjun
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Ptak, Andrew
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Heckman, Timothy M.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Overzier, Roderik A.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Astrophysik Garching, Germany)
Hornschemeier, Ann
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
LaMassa, Stephanie M.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
March 23, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 731
Issue: 1
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.6638.2012
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX08AZ0G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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